Bulldogs dominate Rams boys
When a bulldog bites into something, it doesn't let go. Not until it's ready to.
That's what happened to the Susitna Valley boys basketball team in the final game of the first day of play at the District 3/3A tournament Thursday at Nikiski Middle-Senior High School, as they lost to the Nikiski Bulldogs 54-26.
Nikiski's Josh Reilly, who scored 10 points behind Jeremiah Taylor's game-leading 12, said his team was motivated by watching the previous boys game in which sixth-seeded Grace defeated third-seeded Heritage.
District 3/3A tourney
at Nikiski High School
Boys
Thursday's games
ACS, bye
Houston 43, Seward 39
Grace 62, Heritage 60
Nikiski 54, Susitna Valley 26
Friday's games
Seward, bye
•Game 8 -- Heritage vs. Susitna Valley, 12:45 p.m.
•Game 10 -- ACS vs. Houston, 5:30 p.m.
•Game 12 -- Grace vs. Nikiski, 9 p.m.
Saturday's games
•Fourth place -- Seward vs. Game 8 winner, 11:45 a.m.
•Third place -- Game 10 loser vs. Game 12 loser, 3:15 p.m.
•Championship -- Game 10 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 6:45 p.m.
Girls
Thursday's games
Nikiski, bye
Heritage 48, ACS 40
Seward 39, Houston 37
Grace 70, Susitna Valley 29
Friday's games
ACS, bye
•Game 7 -- Houston vs. Susitna Valley, 11 a.m.
•Game 9 -- Nikiski vs. Heritage, 2:30 p.m.
•Game 11 -- Seward vs. Grace, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday's games
•Fourth place -- ACS vs. Game 7 winner, 10 a.m.
•Third place -- Game 9 loser vs. Game 11 loser, 1:30 p.m.
•Championship -- Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 5 p.m.
"We came out firing on all cylinders," he said. "That could've happened to us."
The Bulldogs took control as soon as they took the floor, pinning the Rams under the glass, boxing them out of the paint and swiping every pass the Rams attempted or rebound that Su Valley missed shots created.
Add to that an invisible lid that seemed to sit over the Rams' rim and two treys from David Holloway, and Bulldogs managed to hold Su Valley to only two points in the first period while scoring 22.
The second period fared no better for the beleaguered Rams, as the misses kept coming and the shots kept falling for a Nikiski team that blanked Su Valley on a 15-0 run before halftime, leaving the score 37-2.
Nikiski coach Reid Kornstad was quick to point out his conflict between not running up the score and not letting his team get relaxed.
"I feel bad," he said. "At the same time we have to find a way to get better while showing good sportsmanship."
Following the break, the tide changed as crafty defense from Su Valley's Tye Steadman and Tyler Moritz created eight Nikiski turnovers that translated to 20 points for the Rams.
After a brief switch back to his starting five in the fourth quarter, Nikiski regained control and ended the evening. Kornstad said he was disappointed in his bench for not holding the line and remaining concentrated.
"I thought the starters came out really focused," he said. "But we had guys on the bench that need to learn how to play. They were riding the coattails of the starters."
Nikiski will play Grace today at 9 p.m. Su Valley will play Heritage at 12:45 p.m.
BULLDOGS 54, RAMS 26
Nikiski 22 15 9 8 -- 54
Su Valley 2 0 20 4 -- 26
NIKISKI (54) -- Reilly 5 0-0 10, Crumpacker 1 0-0 2, J. Gerke 1 0-0 2, K. Gerke 3 0-0 7, Taylor 5 0-2 12, Holloway 3 0-0 8, Rooper 2 0-1 4, Hitchcock 3 1-4 7, M. Jorgensen 1 0-2 2. Totals -- 24 1-10 54.
SU VALLEY (26) -- Steadman 4 1-1 10, Bee 2 0-0 4, B. McNulty 1 0-0 2, Beeck 0 0-0 0, Olson 3 0-0 6, Birdsall 2 0-1 4, Clark 0 0-0 0, M. McNulty 0 0-0 0, Moritz 0 0-0 0, Mannix 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 1-2 26.
3-point goals -- Nikiski 5 (Taylor 2, Holloway 2, Gerke 1); Su Valley 1 (Steadman). Fouls -- Nikiski 7, Su Valley 10. Fouled out -- M. McNulty.
Grace girls 70 , Susitna Valley 29
Grace Christian was more than the Susitna Valley girls could handle. Better than two times more, as the Grizzlies defeated the Rams 70-29.
Grace received nearly half of their scoring from K.C. Long, who netted 34 points including six treys. Su Valley's Melissa McNulty topped the Rams' scoring with 8 points.
The Grizzlies will play Seward today at 7:15 p.m. Su Valley will play Houston today at 11 a.m.
GRIZZLIES 70, RAMS 29
Grace 19 24 16 11 -- 70
Su Valley 7 8 8 6 -- 29
GRACE (70) -- Christensen 2 0-0 4, Marchuk 1 0-0 2, Daly 1 0-0 3, Long 14 0-0 34, Pratt 5 2-6 12, Havard 3 1-2 7, Smalstig 1 0-0 2, Moll 1 0-0 2, Sailors 2 0-0 4. Totals -- 30 3/8 70.
SU VALLEY (20) -- McNulty 4 0-0 8, Pilch 1 0-0 2, Rauchenstein 1 0-0 2, Odden 3 0-0 7, Clark 3 0-0 6, Olner 0 0-0 0, Mash 1 0-0 2, Simpson 1 0-0 2, Fitzgerald 0 0-2 0. Totals -- 14 0-2 20.
3-point goals -- Grace 7 (Long 6, Daly 1); Su Valley 1 (Odden). Fouls -- Grace 10, Su Valley 8. Fouled out -- none.
Grace boys 62, Heritage 60, OT
No. 6 seed Grace took third-seeded Heritage down to the wire, beating the Eagles 62-60 in overtime. The Grizzlies opened the game up with sparks, scoring four more points than Heritage in each quarter of the first half.
The Eagles rebounded in the second half, keeping the Heritage scoring to a minimum and constructing a resurgence that brought the teams to an even keel on the scoreboard as regulation ticked away.
The Grizzlies found their second wind in the extra period, and were able to keep just within reach of Heritage before Alex Lewis put the game away with a last-second 3-point bucket. Kirk Sandstorm led the Grizzlies in scoring with 17 points, while D.J. Newsome was the top netter for Heritage with 21 points.
Grace will play Nikiski today at 9 p.m. Heritage will play Su Valley today at 12:45 p.m.
GRIZZLIES 62, EAGLES 60
Heritage 7 10 17 17 9 -- 60
Grace 11 14 14 14 11 -- 62
HERITAGE (60) -- D. Newsome 7 4-6 21,
Hebnes 2 1-2 5, Gutierrez 3 1-4 7, Flasher 5 0-5 10, Anderson 2 1-2 6, Jas. Reando 1 4-5 6, Corbin 2 1-3 5. Totals -- 22 12-27-60.
GRACE (62) -- Ingals 3 0-0 7, Sandstrom 5 4-7 17, Lasseter 0 0-0 0, Lewis 2 0-1 6, Perry 3 2-2 8, Hale 2 0-0 4, Musgrave 2 4-4 8, Strait 3 6-8 12. Totals -- 20 21-27 62.
3-point goals -- Heritage 4 (D. Newsome 3, Anderson 1); Grace 6 (Sandstrom 3, Lewis 2, Ingals 1). Fouls -- Heritage 8, Grace 8. Fouled out -- none.
Seward girls 39, Houston 37
The No. 3-seeded Seahawks defeated sixth-seeded Houston in tight contest that came down to the line -- the free-throw line. Seward and Houston were neck-and-neck coming out of the gate, with field goals from four Seahawks in the first quarter and scoring from four Hawks, including a 3-pointer from Kerrie Aldeman and a free throw from Sandi Vial, to end the period 8-all.
Houston's Britnee Laphnee contributed a trey in the second quarter as the Hawks took the lead to end the half up by five, 23-18.
The tide turned after the intermission as frequent trips to the bonus line helped the Seahawks regain control of the game and win, with 5-for-8 shooting from the line in the fourth quarter. Leading scorers were Seward's Ruth Banse with 12 points and Houston's Linnea Pudwell with 11.
Seward will play Grace today at 7:15 p.m. and Houston will play Su Valley today at 11 a.m.
SEAHAWKS 39, HAWKS 37
Seward 8 10 10 11 -- 39
Houston 8 15 8 6 -- 37
SEWARD (39) -- Banse 4 4-4 12, Ganser 0 0-0 0, Regis 1 0-0 2, Deruwe 2 0-0 4, Dieckgraeff 2 1-2 5, Linville 1 1-2 3, Gillespie 0 0-0 0, Bardarson 4 3-4 11, Steinbrecher 1 0-0 2, Boulden 0 0-0 0, Segel 0 0-0 0. Totals -- 15 9-12 39.
HOUSTON (37) -- Nicoll 0 4-6 4, Lapham 2 0-0 5, Aldeman 2 1-2 7, Loeffler 1 1-3 3, Pudwill 5 1-2 11, Jurica 0 0-0 0, Metro 1 1-2 3, Harvey 1 0-0 2, Vial 0 2-4 2. . Totals -- 12 10-19 37.
3-point goals -- Houston 3 (Aldeman 2, Lapham 1). Total fouls -- Seward 16, Houston 16. Fouled out -- none.
Houston boys 43, Seward 39
Fourth-seeded Houston beat fifth-seeded Seward in the first boys game of the tournament.
The Hawks were slow starters in the top of each half, logging 4 and 5 points, respectively. But impressive follow-throughs in the bottom of each period, marked by a 14-point second quarter and a 20-point fourth quarter, made up any ground lost to the Seahawks.
Seward managed to keep the game close in the first half, going into the break tied at 18. Leading scorer Jason Boulden, who had 14 points, helped Seward gain a seven-point advantage on the Hawks before the close of the third period. But Houston outside shooting led the storm of scoring as the Hawks rallied behind 3-pointers from D.J. Sandidge, Taylor Richey and Travis Webb to come from behind and win.
Houston will play ACS today at 5:30 p.m. Seward will play a consolation game Saturday at 11:45 a.m.
HAWKS 43, SEAHAWKS 39
Houston 4 14 5 20 -- 43
Seward 7 11 12 9 -- 39
HOUSTON (43) -- J. Webb, 1 1-2 3, Haragan 0 0-0 0, Smith 1 1-3 2, Sandidge 3 1-4 8, Clemens 2 2-3 6, Richey 1 0-0 3, Stull 3 1-2 7, T. Webb 3 4-4 11, Shurtleff 1 0-2 2. Totals -- 15 10-20 43.
SEWARD (39) -- Miller 2 2-2 7, Davis 0 0-0 0, Rininger 0 0-1 0, Boulden 6 2-4 14, Elhard 2 0-0 4, Swiderski 2 4-6 8, Clemens 1 0-0 2, Jones 2 0-0 4, Price 0 0-1 0. Totals -- 15 8-14 39.
3-point goals -- Houston 3 (T. Webb 1, Richey 1, Sandidge 1); Seward 1 (Miller). Fouls -- Houston 17, Seward 16. Fouled out -- none.
Heritage girls 48, ACS 40
Heritage Christian grabbed the lead early and never let up. Eagles Corinne Berlen and Meggie Matteson led all scoring with 19 and 18 points, respectively.
Although the first quarter was dominated by Heritage, the Lions were able to shift the balance of scoring in the second period to tie the game up 17-all by the half. ACS leading scorer Kim Rathman notched 14 points in the Lions' effort.
But the Eagles returned from the break with renewed energy, outscoring ACS 31-23 in the second half to finish the game. Heritage will play Nikiski today at 2:30 p.m. ACS will play a consolation game Saturday at 10 a.m.
EAGLES 48, LIONS 40
Heritage 13 4 18 13 -- 48
ACS 4 13 8 15 -- 40
HERITAGE (48) -- A. Millar 0 0-0 0, Piper 1 2-3 4, Chase 0 1-2 1, Matteson 6 6-9 18, Smith 0 0-0 0, Sutherland 0 0-0 0, L. Hanks 1 0-02 2, Rebischke 0 0-0 0, J. Millar 2 0-0 4, Berlen 8 3-5 19. Totals -- 18 12-23 48.
ACS (40) -- Peterson 4 0-0 9, Fischetti 0 0-0 0, L. Rathman 0 0-0 0, K. Rathman 4 5-6 14, A. Rathman 2 0-0 4, Gaylord 2 0-0 5, Hart 1 0-0 2, Anker 1 2-4 4. Totals -- 15 7-10 40.
3-point goals -- ACS 3 (Peterson 1, K. Rathman 1, Gaylord 1). Fouls -- Heritage 13, ACS 18. Fouled out -- none.